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Each year, the FLA president is charged with selecting a theme that children reading andwill serve as a focal point for the year of his or her presidency. The engaged in learning whiletheme that I’ve chosen for this year is Florida Libraries: Vibrant and school is out. In someVital. In selecting this theme, I wanted to focus on telling the stories counties, adults can go toabout the innovative, exciting activities taking place in all types of the library for Spanish orlibraries and emphasize the vital roles that libraries serve in their Zumba classes, to hearcommunities. lectures on local history or controversial issues, toSince I took office in May, I’ve been visiting a number of libraries, discuss books, or to learntalking with librarians and library workers, and seeing firsthand what a craft. Public librariansmakes our libraries vibrant and vital. What I’ve seen are libraries that are taking services out ofare very much in sync with their communities, offering traditional the building and reaching A girl reads books to her youngerservices one would expect to see in a library, but also taking on new out to day care centers, companion in the Dixie County Library.roles and using new Head Start programs, Boystechnologies. Here and Girls Clubs, schools,are a few of my and community groups. At colleges and universities, libraries areobservations. offering research consultations, face-to-face and Web-based instruction, and academic tutoring and taking their services to residence halls, academic departments, and the student union. It was obvious in each public library I visited that E-government is becoming an increasingly important service provided by libraries. This shifting of responsibilities formerly handled by state social services agencies to public libraries is putting increased demands on library staffs. In many cases, library staff members are assisting people who’ve never used computers and have to learn how to Computers in the Lafayette County Library are in great demand. handle a mouse, as well as complete applications for unemploy-While people continue to come to libraries to read books, watch ment, food stamps, and jobs or learn how to build a résumé. As thevideos, and read newspapers, technology is rapidly changing the library manager in one rural county pointed out, the people they’relandscape. Demand for computer time is on the rise, and many helping are some of the neediest and without the help they get atlibraries are adding laptops to better meet that need. In other ways, the library, they wouldn’t have another place to go.libraries are leveraging technology to better serve their constituen-cies. The Ask-A-Librarian service, web conferencing, and other I hope to continue visiting libraries throughout this year. While Ionline services make it possible for people to get assistance from won’t begin to be able to visit every library, I invite you to send meany location. The Crestview Library, which serves a large military information about what makes your library vibrant and vital and topopulation, provides a room designated for Skype sessions where share images, statistics, and stories with a larger audience bypeople can connect with family members on deployment. E-books participating in Library Snapshot Day on November 2. There willare becoming increasingly popular, and libraries of all sizes from also be opportunities to share ideas, information, and stories at thesmall, rural libraries to large research libraries are offering them. FLA Annual Conference, which is scheduled for April 18-20 at theSome libraries are loaning e-readers and tablet computers and many Wyndham Resort in Orlando. Theare providing access to resources through mobile devices. QR codes Conference Committee is already atare omnipresent from signage to Web sites. Greater access to work planning programs for the 2012materials is being provided through digitization projects and the conference that will expand our development of open-access repositories. The state university knowledge of new technologies,libraries’ new UBorrow service allows rapid sharing of books engage us in thinking about newthroughout the state. roles, and help us to remain vital.Libraries continue to play an important role in education, fromdeveloping literacy, preparing children for school, supporting Gloria Colvinstudent success, and providing for lifelong learning. Parents and President, 2011 - 2012caregivers are still bringing young children to hear stories, do fingerplays, and read books. Summer reading programs are keepingFall 2011 Page 3

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By Maria Gebhardt here can you go to see people of diverse Australia.2 Libraries across the United States (U.S.)cultural backgrounds, different education levels, and have also seen a dramatic increase in usage overdistinct interests enjoying bestsellers, checking out the last decade. In 2008, an incredible 1.5 billionthe latest movies, or furthering their education? library visits took place throughout America. 3Where can people bring their children to travel to amagical land filled with unique characters and VIBRANT FOR GENERATIONS TO COMEcaptivating messages just by listening to story time?Can there be a place that is vibrant, by offering Libraries continue to reach customers inaccess to millions of items and exceptional exciting and vibrant ways, especially throughprograms for people of all ages, while also being a technology and innovative ideas.vital pillar of the local community?  The Orange County Library System (OCLS) The answers to these questions can be found in offers customers the chance to shake theirthe very definition of libraries. These two words, mobile devices to find new items, includingvibrant and vital, clarify that libraries are full of life books, movies, and audiobooks. The OCLSand fundamental to the needs of the millions of Shake It! application, which is available fromresidents of Florida. www.ocls.info/shakeit, allows users to discover something interesting to Libraries are multifaceted organizations that read, view, and hear.impact cities and counties as well as the entirestate. Many people understand that libraries offer A different title from thematerials and services to their customers, but they catalog is displayed eachdo not realize that they are also catalysts for pro- time the device is shaken,gress and growth. They improve the overall quality and users are able toof life in the State of Florida and help increase future choose random displayseconomic development. Libraries make a difference or narrow parametersin communities, and these neighborhoods steadily such as the audience,use and make the most of their libraries. genre, and format to generate a more Public libraries serve almost twenty million targeted result. Thepeople annually through library systems and OCLS Shake It! app hascooperatives in Florida.1 This usage, for just one garnered over 4,000 downloads and more thanyear, is substantial — a number that is just 40,000 shakes since it was made available tounder the population of the entire continent of the public July 2010.4 Page 4 Florida Libraries

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 The Lee County Library System is promoting free downloadable materials on an outdoor billboard that was a gift-in-kind from Cater Outdoor, which donated not only the production costs but also the physical location costs. The billboard will rotate throughout Lee County, informing members of the community that eBooks from the library are just a click away. 5 Stetson University offers prizes for research papers that are submitted electronically through the library’s Web site. The winners are selected based on their usage of library resources for their research. 6  UF is a participant in a new eBook partnership with Open Library, http://openlibrary.org/, which offers more than a million free electronic books to readers. Judy Russell, Dean of University Libraries at UF, explained how this program will allow UF to lend out delicate books without any concerns about future damage to the materials. By circulating eBook versions of historic books, UF gives readers a chance to use these valuable materials while preserving their priceless collection. 8  The Jacksonville Public Library features an I<3 JPL blog, Winner of the 2010 Library Innovation Award http://ilovejpl.com/, from the Florida Library Association, the Marion which gives users a County Public Library System uses social media chance to contact their to connect with teens. 7 The Colossal Reading government representa- Entertainment Artsy Teen Event (CREATE) used tives, share information YouTube to not only to increase awareness of about the importance of the event, but to spark creativity in teens library funding, and throughout Marion County. celebrate everything libraries.Fall 2011 Page 5

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GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN VIBRANT AND VITAL WAYS Libraries directly impact their community innumerous ways. First, libraries are an importantfactor for economic growth and development. “Forevery tax dollar received, Florida public librariesprovide $8.32 in value.” This is just one solid indicatorfrom a Return on Investment (ROI) study that clearlyshows how vital libraries provide a direct financialreturn to the community.9 This study explains that taxdollars are actually going further when they areinvested into a public library. By supporting libraries,hard-earned tax dollars are being used to improvecounties and the overall state through the people inthe very communities they serve. Libraries help people in their neighborhoods,especially the younger generation that will lead andcontinue to improve their cities and counties in futuredecades. Visiting the library, to enjoy and explore itsmaterials and participate in programs such as storytime, helps students to improve literacy skills, whichbuilds a foundation for lifetime learning and higherachievement. Students continue to learn over the computers with Internet access or take advantage ofsummer and retain reading skills with library programs wireless access. Adults of all ages can visit librariesand events that are geared to hold the interest of to attend classes about résumé preparation andyoung library patrons. even learn how to use word-processing programs. Libraries also collaborate within their communities Libraries train many people in advanced computerfor academic success. Libraries build rich partner- skills with 2,618,395 users receiving technologyships to enhance their services and materials. Public instruction in more than a half a million hours oflibraries and libraries on college and university actual learning time in fiscal year 2008–2009campuses reach out to students to provide assistance (FY09).10 People gain essential skills in a variety ofwith homework, research, and even tutoring. Many Microsoft® programs, social networking classes,librarians take the time to offer special consultations and online searching strategies. Once customerson specific research topics as well as free workshops increase their technology skills, they can taketo the community. advantage of the library’s enormous amount of electronic resources including educational Furthermore, libraries help customers beyond the databases, business-related information, andclassroom. Adults can use the library’s public tools for genealogical research. Page 6 Florida Libraries

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Libraries are facing more complex technology- Florida Memory Project, an online service of thebased requests from users about how to utilize online Florida Division of Libraries and Informationgovernment services such as Social Security, public Services, http://www.floridamemory.com/. This siteassistance, and immigration and citizenship. The offers music, images, and documents on numerous2010-2011 Public Library Funding & Technology collections. Many other library Web sites offer onlineAccess Study shows that library users in Florida need access to special collections and features allowinghelp with e-government Web services. Assistance people to virtually visit and view images and evenfrom library staff was requested on average 97.3% historical information from any location at theircompared to the national average of only 89.7%.11 convenience. Libraries also offer free resources to new members of the community to increase their language skills with English classes and The State of Florida developed an online opportunities to practice their writing and speech.portal, http://gethelpflorida.org, to assist residents in Many people volunteer to teach these classes andfinding and using e-government services. The Web tutor adults who need English assistance.site offers information broken down by category andcounty through an easy-to-use map. The site alsooffers income-eligibility data and a direct link to Ask aLibrarian where people can chat, text, e-mail, or calllibraries for support. Get Help Florida includesfrequently asked questions with links to theappropriate state and federal agencies for topicssuch as employment, medical, legal, and business. Small businesses can greatly benefit from the freeonline resources available at libraries. People whowant to start a small business can gain informationabout writing a business plan. For those whoalready have small businesses, libraries offer onlinedatabases with vital records, including demographics,companies, industries, and summaries of keyexecutives. Users throughout the State of Florida have a widevariety of Web resources at their fingertips. Florida’spublic libraries recorded 71,231,995 electronic visits inFY09.12 In addition to utilizing valuable databases inthe Florida Electronic Library, customers can find awealth of photos and historical information through theFall 2011 Page 7

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GIVING BACK THROUGH VITAL SERVICE This issue of Libraries also generated more than one million volunteer Florida Librarieshours in just one year.13 Libraries provide a safe environment for offers even morepeople of all ages to give back to the community. Seniors have exceptional examples ofan opportunity to share their knowledge and skills with a whole how libraries are bothnew generation while constructively spending their time. Vibrant and Vital:Through the generous time of volunteers, many libraries alsohave programs to increase literacy skills and help small  Ever think of whatbusiness owners. Students who volunteer not only set an librarians inexample to their peers, but are actually helping the next othergeneration improve their skills and increase their interest in libraries arelearning. Students who use their libraries while in school also working on?have an advantage when they enter colleges and universities Librarianswith an appreciation to meet people of different cultures from across thearound the world. state used Twitter as part of a Virtual Job Shadowing project. GIVING BACK WITH VIBRANT CULTURE Check out page 12 to read real tweets about their busy and Throughout the State of Florida, libraries offer a special interesting days.environment for the community with collaboration. Culturalevents showcasing different customs and traditions help to bring  Learn how onepeople together and expose new cultures. Many libraries offer university usesevents for cultural heritage months, including Black History audio/videoMonth in February, Women’s History Month in March, and technology toHispanic Heritage Month in September and October. In May, help studentsmany libraries offer unique programming to highlight the rituals use databases.of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.14 Book On page 20,clubs focus on authors from specific geographical areas, panel screencasting makes it easierdiscussions offer library users a chance to listen to speakers to virtually show students how towho share insight and memories of their heritage, and musical find information and offers a tool to promote academic excellence.events showcase different types of instruments and styles ofvarious cultures.  Find out how collaboration can Even without a specific heritage month, libraries enrich help preserve collections. On page 25, the Panamacultural experiences. Museums partner with libraries to offer Canal Museum andbibliographies of materials available and story times are focused University of Floridaaround new exhibitions. Local artists offer free programs with Libraries are workinghands-on experience for different methods of art, and libraries together to protect adisplay impressive artwork that is rotated throughout the year. collection with aLectures on architectural topics also broaden knowledge and century of historicalappreciation of buildings and provide a sense of history to a significance.diverse group of library users. Page 8 Florida Libraries

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By Nancy Pike y governor’s proclamation, in 1928 our state Although the position carries no officialestablished the title of Florida Poet Laureate, the duties, Skellings has used it to promote poetry anddesignee to serve for his/her lifetime. So far, three writing both in person and on television. For example,poets have been granted the honor. he addressed the 1993 annual conference of the Florida Library Association in Daytona Beach. Dr. Edmund Skellings, the current Laureate, In 2008 he was appointed a Universityhas held the post since 1980 when Governor Bob Professor of Humanities at the Florida Institute ofGraham announced his selection by a national Technology (FIT) where his parking sign readspanel from over 400 candidates. Early on, “Reserved Parking Poet Laureate of Florida.” InDr. Skellings intrigued the media with his ponytail, addition to eight books of poetry, he has publishedblack Porsche, and license plate POET1. He was a recordings and software. His latest book is Collectednew style of poet, having early on incorporated Poems, 1958-1998 (University Press of Florida). Inaudio amplification and modification into his 2002, he won the Videographer Crystal Award ofpresentations, even billing himself as “The First Excellence for his video disc Word Songs. The EvansElectric Poet.” Library at FIT is digitizing his multimedia archives.Page 10 Florida Libraries

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Dr. Skellings received his doctorate from the Governor Doyle Carlton then named VivianUniversity of Iowa where he also taught at the Iowa Laramore Rader to succeed him and she did fromWriter’s Workshop. He founded the Alaska Writer’s 1931 until her death in 1975. After she wasWorkshop at the University of Alaska. With a group of appointed Laureate, she established a poetry groupother professors, he organized the Alaska Flying in Miami that met for over 53 years, even continuingPoets who made trips to high schools for talks about at least ten years after her death. Some of Rader’sthe value of writing well. In 1967, he joined the faculty seven published books can still be found at second-at Florida Atlantic University then in 1973 became hand bookstores and online, but the only collectionDirector of the International Institute of Creative Com- containing her work that is still in print is Florida inmunication at Florida International University. He has Poetry: A History of the Imagination, ed. by Janeexperimented with computer and other technology in Anderson Jones and Maurice OSullivan (Pineappleconjunction with his writing. For more about Skellings, Press). The article “In Search of Floridas Forgottensee the recent article at Connotation Press: Poet Laureate” by Antolin Garcia Carbonell offershttp://connotationpress.com/poetry/641-edmund-skellings-poetry. more about her life and career:To read and hear samples of his work, visit: http://www.floridabookreview.com/id40.html.http://research.fit.edu/edmundskellings/. The Poet Laureate serves without compensa- Florida’s first Poet Laureate was Franklin N. tion. In 2008, Senate Bill 2208 proposed to officiallyWood, appointed by Governor John Martin in 1929. legislate the position of Poet Laureate, provide aWood was a successful attorney from Chicago who nominating process, and limit the term to four years;moved to Daytona Beach during the 1920s. He con- however the Bill died in committee. For further infor-tinued to practice law but also started writing poetry. mation about the post and all our Poet Laureates,He published two books of poems, Florida and other check the Department of Cultural Affairs Web site:poems in 1925, and Sunset Horns in 1927. He died in http://www.florida-arts.org/programs/poetlaureate/.Volusia County at age 54. Nancy Pike is former Director of the Sarasota County Library System and former President of the Florida Library Association.Fall 2011 Page 11

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By Jeannette Smithee or two weeks in April 2011, library staff members in Others worked in academic libraries (8). Some worked Florida libraries offered students, colleagues, and any‐ in large libraries, some worked in branch libraries, and one on Twitter an opportunity to follow a day in the some came from small libraries. life at a library. From April 11 through April 22, 2011, twenty‐seven people each used Twitter to document one The biographical statements reflected jobs from day at work for the FLA Virtual Job Shadowing project. Administrative Assistant to Dean of Libraries. Job titles Anyone could follow the Twitter tag #libjobshadowFL to were less important than the types of activities each share impressions of the amazing variety of jobs in librar‐ person shared. In the job shadowing postings, staff ies. Library workers shared the enthusiasm, joy and members indicated multiple tasks and activities across accomplishment of library work. More than one person job or department boundaries. Many spent part of their added the comment "I love my job." day at a reference or other public service desk along with other responsibilities. The primary audience for the Virtual Job Shadowing project was library school students. The project aimed to The FLA Virtual Job Shadowing postings recorded provide real‐world examples of the interesting and impor‐ opening the library, closing the library, preparing for tant work accomplished by people in different roles in a events, work on projects, and most importantly library. The project used Twitter and Facebook, tools that interacting with library customers. Some postings are natural to young people thinking about entering our recorded unique activities and some reflected activities workforce. The messages raised awareness of the value of with common themes. This article includes examples library staff. The students and others who followed the from the FLA Virtual Job Shadowing tweets, in the Twitter tag also learned that the library workplace has an posters own words. incredible variety of jobs and work activities. The Virtual Job Shadowing project took place in April FLA Virtual Job Shadowing 2011 near the federal tax filing deadline. Library staff Who were the people who agreed to be shadowed for members helped with forms, computers and printers. this project? They came from across the state. Tweets Library staff working at reference desks, at circulation came from Central Florida (11), South Florida (9), North‐ desks, and elsewhere in the library also assisted east Florida (4) and Panhandle Florida (2). One person was customers with finding books and answers. There were completing library school in Florida, but had a library job book clubs, programs, and training classes. Library out of state. Most tweeters worked in public libraries (19). customers of all ages interacted with library staff. Page 12 Florida Libraries

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Table 1: Customer Service ‐ Life in Public Service 4/12/2011 @DestinLibrary Reminding patrons that Thursday, April 14th, will be the last AARP Tax‐Aide date for 2010 income tax preparation. 4/13/2011 @leahlew Just helped a patron figure out her log in for Turbo Tax so she could finish filing her taxes. 4/13/2011 @layneaa Flurry of patrons...computers are full...tax forms flying off the racks...and an old friend came to visit. 4/13/2011 @Kimberly_Sheen Email Reference time! Telling a patron how to access our ebook collection! I love doing this! 4/14/2011 @DestinLibrary Time for Book Club! I love my job! 4/18/2011 @oclsnorth Just showed a patron how to access templates in Microsoft Word so she could build her resume! 4/19/2011 @oclsnorth Assisting people uploading their resumes 4/20/2011 @DBPLYALibrarian So far 22 kids and teens have come to our Got Gaming? Club @ DBPL! 4/20/2011 @DBPLYALibrarian Almost time to wrap it up! Gaming stations are being taken down, but kids dont wanna go! 4/20/2011 @librariantom just showed a class how to borrow ebooks from our library. some brought their devices; they probably knew more than me :) 4/20/2011 @oclslibrary Just helped someone find information about free legal assistance for seniors 4/20/2011 @librariantom entering programs for June calendar. "Entrodiksyon a Entenet." not sure how to write "hands on" in Creole. 4/21/2011 @bunniehopp composing email to professors requesting items to be placed on reserve for Fall2011 4/21/2011 @rollinsmiller Fixing printing problems and answering questions about the royal wedding. You never know what you will get on the ref desk! Many libraries are open seven days a week. Several Virtual Job Shadowing postings came during evening hours. One Tweeter reminded us how busy libraries can be on a Sunday. Here are a few posts from a Sunday afternoon in a childrens/young adult area: Table 2: Sunday Service ‐ Never a Dull Day 4/17/2011 @librarymar The library is extra busy this Sunday! Lots of families with kids under 5; also many middle school kids on computers. 4/17/2011 @librarymar A little girl just asked, "Do you know where the pigeon books are?" Haha! We walked to the Mo Willems books & she was happy! 4/17/2011 @librarymar Trying to compose program descriptions, answer patron questions, and assign tasks to teen volunteers. Its good to be busy! 4/17/2011 @librarymar Taking a Snickers break...then checking our story collection database for materials for summer programs. Lists due tomorrow! 4/17/2011 @librarymar Student teacher asked 4 math & social studies books for class of 4‐year‐olds. Suggested picture books abt community helpers. 4/17/2011 @librarymar Young man asked for DVD w/ Spirit in the title & by same director of My Neighbor Totoro. Google helped me find Spirited Away. Fall 2011 Page 13

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Library users do not realize the thought and evaluation that goes into making online resources accessible to library customers. This can be the addition of new technology and gadgets. This can involve reflections on decisions for library electronic resources. Here are a few reflections on technology: Table 3: Technology ‐ Always Something New 4/11/2011 @carriehun Experimenting with Yahoo Pipes to create some RSS mashups. Im thinking local news, a badge for books page, and more. 4/11/2011 @carriehun Configuring our Library Anywhere trial mobile website 4/14/2011 @edlib #Proquest presentation was very good and important. Ill be teaching the new interface come Fall semester. 4/14/2011 @edlib Awesome! #RefWorks 2.0 doesnt require you to turn off popup blockers! Major improvement. 4/14/2011 @Wrecksdart Changes are afoot with some database providers purchasing other collections‐‐ how will this impact our setup? 4/14/2011 @Wrecksdart In a discussion about the love/hate relationship between copiers/printing and students at academic libraries 4/14/2011 @Wrecksdart Minor project: Old VHS tape w/ archival college info needs to be digitized, streamed, and beamed into outer space 4/14/2011 @Wrecksdart Well, okay, maybe not beamed into outer space. Just fired from a cannon‐‐ thats how we librarians roll. One enthusiastic cataloger from Bethune‐Cookman University shared detailed notes for cataloging items with Dewey call numbers. It was a refreshing reminder that the value of collections depends on thoughtful cataloging. Below is the log for one title: Table 4: Cataloging ‐ Life in the Stacks 4/21/2011 @genealogygerri The current book is going to Special Collections; 1.autographed by author; very small book to get lost. 4/21/2011 @genealogygerri A couple of things about this book: Black Back; Back Black by Sarah Webster Fabio. It is autographed and donated 4/21/2011 @genealogygerri So I had to add a couple of fields: 590 for donation and added who donated the book; 500 for autographed and added who signed 4/21/2011 @genealogygerri My last book: It was 809 which stands for History, description, critical appraisal of more than two literatures 4/21/2011 @genealogygerri The whole number is 809.896. Literature for African Americans. Cutter number was author. Page 14 Florida Libraries

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Library administrators and supervisors are not always obvious to library customers. Administrators are vital to library decisions and staff morale. In addition, administrators may fill in to keep the library running smoothly. Table 5: Administration ‐ Life in Management 4/11/2011 @graceveach Approving requisitions. This is the time of year when we have to finish spending our materials budgets. 4/11/2011 @graceveach Out of the office for awhile at a Deans meeting. All the details of graduation and end‐of‐year have to fit together. 4/11/2011 @lmanners NOW will start working on the router ... I Hope. Oops ... pass out paychecks first, router??? 4/15/2011 @newriverlib Spent time updating equipment inventory. New equip. for telecom installed & inventoried; preparing to surplus old stuff. 4/20/2011 @layneaa Working on the bank deposit. Came in late today because the book discussion is tonight at 6:30 p.m. 4/21/2011 @rollinsmiller Just reviewed the faculty tech. grant recipients for 2011‐12. Each one gets the support of a lib and an instructional tech. Lunch was a significant event for many. Along with routines to prepare for the day, and to close the library at the end of the day, lunch was a milestone in busy multitasking days. Table 6: Lunch ‐ Don’t Forget Lunch! 4/12/2011 @destinlibrary Celebrating National Library Workers Day with colleagues. Pizza courtesy of library booster. Yum, yum 4/12/2011 @ladystarfisher Going to teach a nice lunchtime yoga class for the library staff. 4/13/2011 @leahlew Grabbing a quick lunch before getting back to work. 4/14/2011 @Wrecksdart Oh dear. IT is attempting to order lunch. This involves Twitter, Paypal, MySql, and a laser beam. 4/15/2011 @newriverlib Updating policy brochure but taking a break for lunch. 4/20/2011 @layneaa BRB...lunch calls... The twenty‐seven people who shared their workdays had In preparation for this article, the people who shared a lot of fun. They shared the joys of connecting library their workdays were asked by the organizer if it was a customers with the information they need. valuable experience and if they had any reactions or com‐ ments from others. Several people observed that the act of tweeting their day made them think about their job and ap‐Reactions and Comments preciate what they do every day. One person said that she The FLA Virtual Job Shadowing project covered twelve was following others on the same day she was tweeting and days in April 2011 when 643 Twitter postings used the tag was amazed at how different their daily routines were. #libjobshadowFL. The Facebook page usage statistics showed that there were between 300 and 660 daily views of the posts A few people commented that the Virtual Job Shadowing through Facebook. The total for the two‐week period was project was an incentive for them to learn to use Twitter and over 6,000 views. The author believes that as many people become more familiar with that social tool. followed the project directly from Twitter. Fall 2011 Page 15

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The direct comments were not numerous, but they were A 2010 ALA Emerging Leaders project drafted a toolkit for insightful. One person said that followers "liked seeing that I was the Young Adult Library Services Association entitled Young having fun at work." Another person said that he had "a few Adult Librarian Job Shadowing Toolkit for School Librarians. A folks mention that it was interesting to see into a workday at the chapter on Virtual Job Shadowing offers advice on using Reference desk. My partner, who works in ... a different branch, technology (but not social media) for job shadowing. said he finally understood what I did all day." Virtual job shadowing takes advantage of interactive technologies such as instant messaging, chat rooms, Skype Another participant commented that, "this is a good way to and other conferencing resources to connect teens with help potential librarians focus in on the specific types of jobs working librarians for a meaningful, interactive conversation. they would be interested in within the library field." The FLA Teens are already connected to friends and family through Virtual Job Shadowing project can be a valuable tool to share the many of these mediums. They are comfortable with and savvy variety and energy of library work. There is opportunity for many about communicating virtually. more FLA members, with different assignments and experience, to make future FLA Virtual Job Shadowing projects a success. The Florida Library Association Virtual Job Shadowing project uses Twitter and Facebook. These tools worked well together Types of Job Shadowing by combining commentary on the Facebook wall along with the How does FLA Virtual Job Shadowing compare with other tab showing the active Twitter feed. Another social media job projects? Job shadowing is an important way to introduce those shadowing project is the Library Day in the Life project, a semi‐new to the job force and those considering a career change to annual event coordinated by Bobbi Newman of the Librarian by make important decisions. Job shadowing traditionally includes Day blog, http://librarianbyday.net/. Twice a year librarians, face‐to‐face visits to a workplace. Junior Achievement, or JA, library staff and library students from all over the globe share a supports job shadowing programs for high school students. day (or week) in their life through blog posts, photos, video and Junior Achievement, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Twitter updates. The project gathers participant information on Education and the U.S. Department of Labor, sponsored Ground‐ the Library Day in the Life Project wiki, hog Job Shadow Day each February 2 for several years. Many http://librarydayinthelife.pbworks.com/. libraries participated and the American Library Association developed a Job Shadow Day Planning Notebook. The Chicago Development of the FLA Virtual Job Shadowing Project Library System Groundhog Job Shadow Day was featured in a The successful April 2011 FLA Virtual Job Shadowing project special report in the May 2001 issue of American Libraries. Jun‐ built on a project of the 2009‐2010 FLA Library Personnel Re‐ior Achievement now cooperates with the Office of Juvenile cruitment Committee. Committee member, Neal Smith of the Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, guided the first year U.S. Department of Justice for JA Job Shadow year‐round project. Committee members promoted the project, sending opportunities. The JA Job Shadow Orientation video describes messages to Florida library listservs, recruiting participants and how organizations can participate. announcing the days for the job shadowing. Neal Smith set up a Facebook page and scheduled people to tweet about their The concept of virtual job shadowing is less common. Most workdays. Over the sixteen days from February 16 to March 4, examples rely on video. The commercial firm Career Corner 2010, seven FLA members tweeted about their jobs. It was the Digital offers a subscription website with over one hundred Committees loss when Neal Smith decided to attend graduate recorded videos. The Junior Achievement Student Center has job school out of state and was unavailable for the 2011 project. videos with 130 interviews representing careers in the sixteen industry‐specific clusters defined by the U.S. Department of The 2010‐2011 FLA Library Personnel Recruitment Commit‐Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education. Neither site tee decided to continue the Virtual Job Shadowing project. The includes library or information professional jobs. 2010‐2011 committee members took the lead in developing Page 16 Florida Libraries

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the announcements and posting them to the various library Many thanks to the 2011 FLA Virtual Job Shadowing Tweeters: listservs and to the FLA Blog. The recruitment messages invited Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach County Library System; Amelia Anderson, any Florida library staff member regardless of job title to partici‐ Orange County Library System; Susan Arlew, University of South pate. Lois Albertson of SEFLIN provided the social media Florida ‐ Tampa Library; Ginny Bird, New River Public Library expertise for creating and monitoring the Facebook and Twitter Cooperative; Tom Cipullo, Palm Beach County Library System; accounts. She also scheduled those who volunteered and added Omar Elkalyoubie, Orange County Library System; Alex Hipworth, biographical notes to the Facebook page. Announcements to Orange County Library System; Natalie Houston, Orange County follow the project went to the two schools of library and Library System; Carrie Hunsucker, Alachua County Library District; information services in Florida and to Florida libraries. The Tina Kaple, Destin Library; Kathleen Kempa, Southeastern Univer‐power of social media extended awareness. sity Steelman Library; Geraldine Kohn, Bethune‐Cookman Univer‐ sity Library; Jimi Kunkel, Orange County Library System; Alison Twenty‐seven volunteers tweeted during twelve days in April. Layne, Charlotte County Library System; Leah Lewandowski, Lake The Virtual Job Shadowing dates included National Library Week. Park Public Library; Lisa Manners, Broward County Library; Loanis Each weekday featured two or three people. One person agreed Menendez‐Cuesta, Delray Beach Public Library; Jonathan Miller, to tweet on a weekend. Having more than one person tweeting Rollins College Olin Library; Rose Petralia, Florida Institute of for the day added to the interest and variety of the experience. Technology’s Evans Library; Marianne Reeves, Palm Beach County Library System; Will Rogers, Destin Library; Kema Roseberry, Jacksonville Public Library; Kimberly Sheen, Ave Maria University The Facebook page, Library; Aramis Troche, Palm Beach County Library System; Micah http://www.facebook.com/FLAVirtualJobShadowing, served as Vandegrift, Brooklyn Public Library and student at Florida State the focal point for the FLA Virtual Job Shadowing project. This Universitys SLIS; Grace Veach, Southeastern University; and Ben page included a Wall for announcements and reminders, an Webb, Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences. Events tab with a listing of Tweeters by the date they would Tweet, and a tab for current Twitter messages. A Twitter page at NOTES:http://www.twitter.com/LibJobShadowFL included the current 1 ‐ American Library Association Divisions Job Shadow Day Planning and archived messages. Each person who agreed to be shad‐ Notebook. American Library Association, Chicago, 2003, accessed July 23, owed for the project used the Twitter tag #LibJobShadowFL. This 2011, http://www.ala.org/ala//pla/plaissues/publiclibrarianrecruitment/ jobshadow.pdf. allowed the messages from twenty‐seven participants to be collected on the Twitter and Facebook pages. 2 ‐ Linda Wallace. "Groundhog Job Shadow Day Shatters Stereotypes, American Libraries, May 2001, 38‐39. 3 ‐"JA Job Shadow Orientation Video," 15:00 minutes, accessed July 22, Acknowledgements 2011, http://www.ja.org/programs/jobshadow_orientation/ The Florida Library programs_job_shadow_orientation.shtml. Association Library 4 ‐"What is Virtual Job Shadow.com?" accessed July 23, 2011, Personnel Recruitment http://www.virtualjobshadow.com/vjs.asp. Committee developed the 5 ‐"Job Videos," accessed July 22, 2011, http://studentcenter.ja.org/FLA Virtual Job Shadowing careers/jobvideos/. project. Thanks go to the 6 ‐"Virtual Job Shadowing Opportunities," Young Adult Librarian Job 2010‐2011 members of Shadowing Toolkit for School Librarians, Young Adult Library Services the committee: Jenny Alleyne, Florida Hospital College of Health Association, page 11, accessed July 17, 2011 on ALA Connect, http://connect.ala.org/files/43110/school_librarian_toolkit_doc_75278.doc. Sciences; Cindy Dorfeld Bruckman, Alachua County Library District; Christie Koontz, Florida State University School of Library and Information Services; Jeannette Smithee, SEFLIN; Jeannette Smithee is the Executive Director for theand Cynthia Snyder, Rollins College. Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN).Fall 2011 Page 17

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By Joyce SparrowI recently had a book editor tell me that Floridafiction relies on the prominence and popularity of history. Tom Corcoran gives readers a mile marker-by -mile marker look at the little piece of geographyCarl Hiaasen and Dave Barry. It was one of those called the Florida Keys where residents are lulled bycomments that made me glad I wasn’t wearing flip the idea that they are removed from the real world.flops so I could easily come out of my shoes. I am afirm believer that there is much more to Florida Florida fiction ranges beach reading to literaryfiction than Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry. fiction, cozy mysteries and tense thrillers. There are endless romance novels featuring heroic men who In Florida fiction the geography and atmosphere rescue single mothers in the world of happily everthe Sunshine State play a role; it is nearly a charac- after. And that mix is all okay. Hiaasen and Barryter. For example, the author does not describe just have earned the respect of major publishers withany afternoon rain storm, it is the 4 p.m. Florida large marketing accounts but it is the writers whogully washer that sizzles and steams on the asphalt. have their toes in the Florida sand who populate myIt is stories of children who come to the Sunshine reading list.State with their parents who need to reinventthemselves. It includes tales of men who find Here are new titles that deserve a place in thethemselves in Miami and question where they can hands of library patrons:flee to now that their dreams were not realized whenthe escaped to South Florida. The Daddy Catch (Harlequin, 2011) written by Leigh Duncan combines the environmental efforts of a Stephen King sees Florida as a healing place local young widow who is a fly-fishing guide with theand as a result he wrote Duma Key. Janet Burroway connections of a handsome surgeon in the fictionalwrites Florida fiction as a love song to the Gulf Phelps Cove, Florida. The romance takes place inCoast. Nancy Haddock places her fiction in St. and around battle grounds of developers who want toAugustine which she calls a touchable city, rich with build on a preserve. Page 18 Florida Libraries

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Emilie Richards has added another title SunsetBridge (Mira, 2011) to her Happiness Key series.Again, there is the fight between the developers andthe environmentalists, along with the quirky personali-ties who live in the cottages on Happiness Key. Diana Abu-Jaber’s Birds of Paradise (Norton,2011) tells the story of a Avis, a pastry chef and Brian,a corporate real estate attorney, who struggle withtheir daughter Felice who ran away from home whenshe was thirteen and chooses to live on the streetsand beaches of Miami. The Institute of Science and Public Affairs, Florida State University has published the Atlas of Sterling Watson’s Fighting in the Shade (Akashic Florida’s Natural Heritage - Biodiversity, Landscapes,Books, 2011) captures the 1964 old school Florida Stewardship, and Opportunities, which isfootball culture in the coming-of-age story of Billy Dyer recommended for academic and public librarywho is pulled into the backdoor old boys’ network by circulating and reference collections. The maps andhis secretive and alcoholic father. photographs beautifully show the “extremes and contradictions” of Florida’s natural heritage. Readers Michael Lister’s The Big Goodbye (Pulpwood will understand the various ecological differences inPress, 2011) is Florida noir fiction featuring Jimmy Florida and come away with a better awareness of“Soldier” Riley in Panama City in 1943. The story Florida’s biodiversity and conservation issues. Therevolves around blackmail and a beautiful woman. atlas provided useful information for secondary students and lifelong learners. Paradise Dogs (Thomas Dunne Books, 2011) byMan Martin is tells the story of the owner of a hot dog I’ve attend book signings and exchange e-mailsstand. The story brings to life true 1960s southern with many writers who don’t have big marketingwaitresses who chew Fruit-Striped Gum and smoke budgets behind their book contracts. Many of theseLucky Strikes. It is by far one of the funniest Florida authors fill their car trucks with books and drive fromnovels recently published. Adam Newman gets my independent book stores to public libraries tovote for the most colorful character in Florida fiction introduce themselves to readers. Most of all theybecause he reinvents himself throughout the novel. know I am their biggest fan. So, there is much moreNeed a doctor, Adam can do it. Need a marriage to Florida fiction than Hiaasen and Barry.counselor, Adam is your man. On the nonfiction list, Paul Hendrickson’s Joyce Sparrow can be reached atHemingway’s Boat (Knopf, 2011) reveals a new look joycehopesparrow@gmail.com.at Hemingway through the Pilar, the thirty-eight footmotor yacht, he used to fish the currents of the Gulf.Fall 2011 Page 19

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By Zach EnglishW hile online databases are sophisticated tools for retrieving information about even the most obscure who are new to the process, it can be very surprising that searching through library databases is differentresearch topic, knowing how to use them is not than searching through Google. They may getintuitive. This is why today’s academic reference frustrated if the process breaks down somewhere aslibrarians make database navigation one of the central they search from home. This is a common problemelements of their bibliographic instruction. Libraries at that academic librarians everywhere try to overcome.Everglades University have begun making a series ofvery brief screencasting videos that are more Recently, we experimented with a new option:specifically tailored to individual topics and strategies. five-minute screencasting videos. ScreencastingThis article will explain how effective, affordable and allows a librarian to capture a computer’s desktopeasy it is to make and use these videos. image and then share it with the viewer. The viewer sees a virtual duplication of the librarian’s computer There are three libraries at Everglades University, including every step being completed. One can alsoone for each of our three campuses in Altamonte speak through a microphone and explain things whileSprings, Sarasota and Boca Raton. Everglades clicking through to databases or other Web sites.University is a career university with a diverse studentpopulation. While there are a few hundred on-campus For onlystudents, the majority of our students are distance $14.99 a year,learners. Many of them live in other states, and some Everglades’live in other countries. Therefore, on-campus library Universityservices are only one aspect of what we must provide. subscribes toThe libraries offer a number of online options for our Jing Pro. Jing,distance learners: Meebo chat, a blog with annotated a TechSmithlinks, Elluminate Webinars, a range of databases, product, is ae-books, etc. screencasting program that At Everglades, each course is required to include a allows you tolibrary assignment. For online students, since check- make videos up to five minutes in length, and also toing out books from the physical collections is often upload them to YouTube. When you finish recordingimpossible, the libraries’ databases including Pro- a video, you can upload it to a site called Screen-Quest, ebrary, EBSCO, and InfoTrac are vital to their cast.com. A Screencast.com account is free forresearch. However, these databases each present anyone to host. When you create this account, youunique challenges. Getting too many results (or too will have a password-restricted area where you canfew) is easy to do, while getting a more manageable arrange a library of your videos. However, theresult list can involve trial and error. Reference librari- students can view the videos when you send them aans are aware of these concerns, but for students URL that does not need to be password-restricted. Page 20 Florida Libraries

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For Everglades University videos, I begin by script beforehand, but for other more familiar topics,capturing the entire computer screen. Then, as Jing the librarians might just “wing it.” It is easier to be in-starts to record, I introduce myself and explain the formal and conversational that way.purpose of the video. What is useful about this is that Iwill not just describe the databases in a vacuum. I When you upload the video to Screencast.com, itbegin by telling the students why a database will be will have its own URL, and then you can use thatappropriate for their particular academic program. For URL to publicize the video. We include the URLs in aexample, I could say, “Here is our library Web site. monthly e-mail blast to our students’ e-mail accounts,Below you will see links to the databases we recom- along with colorful graphics and an inviting descrip-mend to our students in the Business Management tion. Then we also include the URL in links that areprogram. However, over here is the link to ProQuest. placed on our library Web site (http://kesu-verso.autoProQuest is an all-purpose database that includes -graphics.com), under the heading “Video Tutorials.”good articles about Business Management topics. Paul Betty at the Regis University Library writes thatHowever, it is not subject-specific, so we recommend his library’s ways of publicizing its screencastingtrying it after you have first used the subject-specific videos included announcing news updates on theones, as doing this will increase the accuracy of your library site and in the campus student newsletter, assearches. Follow me as we go into EBSCO Business well as handing out bookmarks with announcementsSource Complete…” and sending out direct e-mails. In your Screen- cast.com library, you can keep track of video views, Even if a library’s subscription to a certain which are useful statistics to have. Betty writes thatdatabase includes access to the vendor’s instructional Regis also used Google Analytics to track statistics.materials, none of those materials will feature the per-sonalized communication that only librarians familiar Another possibility, which Everglades Universitywith students’ assignments, tendencies and academic has not explored yet but which sounds promising, isprograms can give. Vendor tutorials also will not show to use screencasting as an “on-the-fly” supplement tothe viewer exactly where to click if they want to enter virtual reference transactions, such as those over e-their database from an institution’s site. The most mail and instant messaging. This is possible becauseimportant benefit with library-produced videos is this recording a quick video with Jing and sending out thepersonal, “tour guide” approach. URL takes little more time than it takes to perform the underlying search itself. Carr and Ly, from Cali- During the video I may also mention, “Since we are fornia State University’s Kellogg Library, report thatgoing to be clicking in to several different spots and they have found this strategy successful. They notechecking off boxes here and there, you may find it that, while in-person reference assistance includesuseful to open this video in a new window and then the visual and the auditory, written instructions canpause it periodically as you follow along yourself, step take much longer and lead to misunderstandings.by step.” So, for example, if they missed the part Screencasting can help to resolve those problems.where I said, “Check off the ‘Full Text Only’ box,located here,” or “Make sure to put quotation marks We also recently experimented with a trialaround terms like ‘free trade’ so that the words appear version of Camtasia, which is an editing platform thattogether,” they can just rewind the video to that point can merge with Jing Pro so that you can edit yourand see it again. Librarians know that these videos. Jing Pro does not allow any post-productionseemingly minor details are integral to the success or editing, so if you make a verbal gaffe or if a pagefailure of a search. Sometimes it helps to write out a does not load quickly enough, you may have to re-doFall 2011 Page 21

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the video from scratch. With Camtasia, you can edit same end. Mikael Jacobsen writes that goodthe entire soundtrack, and re-record individual sec- screencasting should involve the following:tions as needed. You can also add in quizzes, pop-upvisuals, music, and more. We made one video where,  Explain what you are about to do.instead of a librarian voice-over, we played a music  Have one goal, and answer one question. Donttrack in the background and merely showed with clutter the screencast with unnecessary information.arrows, circles and call-out tabs how to go from point  Pace yourself; dont go racing through. If possible,to point on the main Everglades University Web site. let the patron control the pace.A Camtasia subscription costs $299 a year, but the  If using audio, speak and move the mouse slowly toadded options are exciting and you might find that allow the patron to follow along.your students respond well to that style.  Summarize the reason for the screencast near the end.  Have a starting point. This is usually the front page of the librarys Web site, but it could be anything as long as the patron knows how to get to it.  If the patron seems interested, teach her or him how to use the tool. Wouldnt this be a great way to get help requests?  Don’t worry about making it perfect. These are meant to be quick and dirty, so mistakes are fine. As academic libraries extend their digital reach, more students are increasingly relying on librarians to overcome geographical barriers. Screencasting is one way for us to achieve that goal. For more Students let us know that they appreciate this new information, please visit:instructional approach. It helps to reiterate now andagain that libraries are for more than just checking out Jing – http://www.techsmith.com/jing/books – that we can assist them with all of theirresearch needs. And while the brevity of the videos is Camtasia – http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/a limitation, in another sense, it carries benefits:letting students know that the video they are about to NOTES:click on is not an hour long will make it more appeal-ing to watch while drinking their morning coffee and 1 - Paul Betty, “Creation, Management and Assessment of Library Screencasts: The Regis Libraries Animated Tutorialschecking their other e-mail; and having a short time Project,” Journal of Library Administration 48, no. 3-4 (Dec.window also forces one to be as concise and direct as 2008): 295-315.possible. You can put as many topic-specific videos 2 - Allison Carr and Pearl Ly, “’More than Words’: Screen-as you want on Screencast.com, and additional casting as a reference tool,” Reference Services Review 37,bandwith to host your video library is inexpensive (if no. 4 (2009): 408-420.you even reach the point of needing it). 3 - Mikael Jacobsen, “Screencasting for an audience of one,” Library Journal 136, no. 1 (Jan. 2011): 142. The use of screencasting videos seems to becatching on in all sorts of libraries throughout the Zach English is the campus librarian atcountry. A review of LIS literature provides more Everglades Universitys Altamonte Springs branch campus. He received his MLIS from the University ofexamples of other technologies being used for the South Floridas School of Information in 2010. Page 22 Florida Libraries

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Leading with Access: Florida Libraries Provides Information and Inspires Collaboration by Gloria Colvin At its June meeting, the Florida Library Association Executive Board voted to make Florida Libraries anopen-access publication following a two month embargo period when the journal will only be available tomembers. In doing so, FLA joined a growing movement to open up content and share information with awider audience. Open-access (OA) literature is digital, online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensingrestrictions. Articles published in Florida Libraries will be accessible through Google searches, making itpossible for more people to learn about programs and topics related to libraries in Florida. Authors whopublish articles in Florida Libraries will be able to use their articles by making copies, posting them onpersonal Web sites or placing them in institutional repositories. The Open Access movement has grown out of concerns about the high cost of journals, particularly in thesciences, and libraries’ resulting inability to provide access to important publications; efforts by governmentalfunding agencies to make the products of research paid for by taxpayers freely available to the public; andincreasing awareness of the social benefits of sharing information and data. Libraries are at the forefront of this movement and a number of library organizations have set an exampleby making their publications open access. The FLA Executive Board recognized the value in making thischange for Florida Libraries and is pleased to taking a leading role in this movement. People and organizations around the world will be promoting open access during Open Access Week,October 24-30. If your library would like to offer a program or have a discussion as part of the week’sactivities, see the Open Access Week Web site (http://www.openaccessweek.org/) for ideas and information.Skype Reservation Room at Crestview Public Library by Sandra DreadenThe Crestview Public Library now offers a dedicated laptop and tutor room for Skype,the software application that allows users to make video/voice calls over the Internet.Over the past year the library had had several requests from out-of-state employers aswell as local patrons wanting to conduct Skype job interviews. We also have a heavyconcentration of military personnel in our area with more arriving every week. The2005 Base Realignment and Closing ordered the move of the 7th Special Forces, theGreen Berets, from Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, to a brand-new cantonment justcompleted south of Crestview. Twenty-two hundred military personnel plus 4000 familymembers are moving to this area by September 2011 with a growing need tocommunicate overseas by Skype.Patrons use their library card to make a reservation at the library’s PC ReservationStation, choosing “Skype Laptop” as their area, take their receipt to the circ desk to pickup the Skype system, and then hook it up in the designated tutor room. Reservationsmay be made for immediate use or up to a week in advance.An active participant in FLA’s first Library Snapshot Day in January 2011, the CrestviewPublic Library continues to evolve as a “vibrant and vital” Florida library!Fall 2011 Page 23

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By Dr. Rachel A. Schipper g hroughout the nation, small and medium sized museums faced with increased economic challenges have The Panama Canal Museum’s broad mission includes the contributions by people of all nationalities to the begun partnerships with “university or other academic construction, operation and maintenance of the Panama institutions, in some cases handing over artworks and Canal. The United States began construction in 1904 after changing locations” in an effort to preserve their the French had unsuccessfully attempted to create a collections and to make those collections more accessible.1 sea‐level canal. In contrast, American engineers dammed These collaborations work well, since libraries and the Río Chagres to create Gatun Lake in the middle of the museums have some of the same audiences. Grant isthmus and a series of locks to equalize sea levels. The proposals are often strengthened with such ties, Canal began commercial operation in 1914 and continued and are able to address a broad range of topics, from to expand in prominence during a time when the Isthmus leadership in the field, preservation, archival practices, became a major thoroughfare for cargo and passenger education, exhibition and outreach. “Libraries, archives ships transporting between the Atlantic and Pacific and museums are often natural partners for collaboration Oceans. and cooperation, in that they often serve the same community in similar ways. Libraries, archives and Until December 31, 1999, the United States continued museums all support and enhance lifelong learning opportunities, preserve community heritage, and protect to operate the Canal. As a result of the Torrijos‐Carter and provide access to information.”2 Treaty signed in 1977, Americans began to train Panama‐ nians to assume total control of the Canal by 1999. The Torrijos‐Carter agreement identified that Panama would Twelve years after opening, the Panama Canal assume control of all Canal operations and “become Museum (PCM) http://www.panamacanalmuseum.org/ primarily responsible for its defense” 3 in Seminole, Florida made the decision to transfer their collections to the University of Florida (UF) Libraries. In collaboration with other campus units (the Center for Latin An expansion project begun in 2006 intends to dou‐ American Studies and the Samuel Proctor Oral History ble the Canal’s capacity with an anticipated completion Program), the UF Libraries will preserve and archive a date of 2014 ‐ the 100th anniversary of the original open‐portion of Canal Zone history that encompasses the time ing of the Canal. Joint exhibits of information and artifacts of the United States presence in Panama (1903‐1999). are planned for the 100th anniversary celebration. The Uniquely qualified to offer access to these collections, the University of Florida plans to partner with the Florida UF Libraries have one of the largest and most respected Museum of Natural History (FMNH) to create an exhibit Latin American repositories in the nation. Engaging the that will include objects from the National Archives and PCM population means the expansion of potential subject Records Administration, the Library of Congress and other specialists by inviting the external community to contrib‐ prominent national entities. The exhibit will be further ute in knowledge generation. Beyond a mutual benefit, the enhanced with a display of paleontological specimens university will make available outreach activities and part‐ excavated from the expansion of the Canal. The FMNH nerships that might otherwise not be available. Cultivation has a $3.2 million dollar grant from the National Science of the community will be the subject of several grant Foundation (NSF) to “advance knowledge of the extinct proposals that will be submitted for continuing support of faunas and floras of the ancient Neotropics based on the the Panama Canal Museum membership and mission. new fossil discoveries along the Canal”.4 Fall 2011 Page 25

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Students and faculty are engaged in the Canal’s items that are generally in good condition will be out‐biological, paleontological and geological outreach